CRAVEN people have been urged to show their support to multi million plans to divert the A59 at Kex Gill.

North Yorkshire County Council is consulting until the end of October on options to bypass the stretch of the road between Skipton and Harrogate, near Blubberhouses, which has been subject to frequent landslides.

The four possible options, estimated to cost between £33 million and £40 million and narrowed down from an original 16, would see a new stretch of road of about three miles long across the valley from the existing A59.

All options start from the same point at Kex Gill Farm, and follow a bridleway along the north edge of the valley, returning to the A59 at the turn off to Otley at Church Hill.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan told Craven District Council's Policy meeting although Kex Gill was not in Craven, the closure of the road had a major impact on the area.

Cllr Mulligan, who is a member of the county council's ruling executive, said the eight week closure last year had meant diversions through Pateley Bridge and West Yorkshire.

"When the road was diverted to West Yorkshire we had no influence if West Yorkshire wanted to do roadworks, it was a bit of a disaster. We need to take advantage of this. It affects everyone in Craven. I hope it will be going forward and I will fight as hard as I can for it," he said.

Cllr David Ireton, who is also a county councillor, said he was confident the work at Kex Gill would go ahead, but that it would happen because the frequent landslides had forced the issue.

"If it was the roads around Harrogate or York it would have already had happened because that is where the money seems to go," he said.

Skipton MP Julian Smith has welcomed efforts to improve the road moving onto the next stage.

"I would encourage every interested user of the A59 to contribute to the consultation. This stretch of road is vital to the local area and as a trans-Pennine route for freight and other users. I stand ready to assist North Yorkshire County Council to ensure they are given the fullest support from central government," he said.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways, said the A59 provided a vital link between the east and the west of the region through North Yorkshire.

"Its reliability is crucial for the economic growth of our county as well as the convenience and safety of commuters, visitors and residents," he said.

"The consultation will help us to determine the route that most improves the resilience of the A59, along with improved safety and increased reliability of journey times for road users while maintaining the landscape, ecological and historical value of the surrounding area.”

Fellow county councillor, Stanley Lumley, local member and a member of the Kex Gill steering group, said: “This cross-county route is very important for business and tourism and vital to our economy. Kex Gill has always been a challenge in its current form, narrow and twisting, especially for large vehicles. Whenever the road has to close there is significant impact on businesses along the route and, I suspect, communities that link with the road. The land stability will not improve, so investing more in the existing road is not a cost-effective option. It is fantastic news that the government recognises the importance of this new route. I understand the importance of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Site of Special Scientific Interest, but it is imperative this new route goes ahead.”

The consultation and details of all the routes are available online: northyorks.gov.uk/kexgill from Monday.

A public engagement meeting is due to take place at Skipton Town Hall on Thursday, September 21 between 10am and 2pm, and between 3pm and 8pm.

A meeting will also be held at St Peter's Church Hall, Harrogate, on Friday, September 22, and at Norwood Social Hall, Washburn, near Otley, on Saturday, September 23 between 9.30am and 3pm.

The consultation and details of all the routes are available online: northyorks.gov.uk/kexgill.

Paper copies of the consultation and related material and available on request: email LTP@northyorks.gov.uk, call 01609 780780 or write to Transport Planning, BES, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD.